Court tells Punjab to check mushrooming of illegal colonies

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government that as a one-time measure it (government) had decided to regularise illegal colonies, but in future it should ensure that there is complete stoppage of mushrooming of such colonies.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Punjab government that as a one-time measure it (government) had decided to regularise illegal colonies, but in future it should ensure that there is complete stoppage of mushrooming of such colonies.

The directions came from the division bench headed by chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Ramesh Kumar.

During the hearing of the case, the state government counsel placed on record the notification issued by the state on June 26 for compounding/regularisation of unauthorised colonies and to provide them with basic facilities.

On this, speaking for the court, the chief justice asked, "How can you let these illegal colonies mushroom? Why do not you take any prompt action? Growth is necessary, but is should be planned growth and not haphazard growth."

Otherwise, this is a huge problem that goes unchecked."The petitioner, a resident of Khanauri in Sangrur district, had brought to the court's notice illegal constructions in Sukhdev Colony in Khanauri Mandi. Later, the authorities concerned had informed the high court that apart from this colony, there were around 11 colonies where there had been illegal constructions.

The petitioner had highlighted that a large number of illegal colonies were coming up in the state and the state government was allowing flourishing of such colonies right under its nose without any check.The case would now come up for hearing on September 23.